Detachable connector for tensile members



May 10, 1949- J. R. c. QUILTER E '2,469,574

DETAGHABLE CONNECTOR FOR TENSILE MEMBERS Filed March 15, 1947 a WM IBS kPrlSRuY Patented May 10, 1949 GONNEOTORTFOR'IENSIUE "MEBIBERS IJ ohn4 Raymond Cuthbertf/Quilter, liWokng, England f'AmilicationiMarch, 19

In-LGreatBritain March 21,115946 ,This inventionrelates yto detachable .connectors .for-parachute. harness.

Themainobjectnf `the invention is .to provide animproved deviceo'f.this character, ac'iapted for .manual .disconnection of jli'ft .webs and like members of 'the iharness, even .while lunder tension, ',the improved device being particularly applicabletotensile members 'formed by a number of ,coriclsnooped .engagement with shackles lor 'the like.

'A'urther object ,of theinventiongisto provide .a detachable 'connector which caribe readily operated ,by one hand, so'that an aviator can clisconn'ec't apair of'llft webs Vor'the 'like simultaneously: by usingboth handslthegnecessary movements being vsuch that they can .beiperform'ed readily even whenthick, gloves. are being worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide l,an :improved detachable connector 1for tensile 'members -such bas 'lift "webs, wherein a preliminary-unlockingrnovement is effected'by sliding a pair of spring-controlled -grips'in the direction of the load-tension on said members, after'which :the two grips -a-re squeezed -or 'closed ltogether uin order-to Yproduce fthe disconnection df -the tensile members v@ther obj ects "and advantages 'of the i invention `will hereinafter 'appear Sfrom "the :following description l'of Ia preferred embodiment, given ewith reference to the accompanying ldrawings, in whicht `Fig. y1 is'anie'lfevation -vof the connector vin nor- "mal rpesiticn, with Ithe tensilemembers rattached v'to its parallel-orossbars.

Fig. '2 is an elevation -s'howing'the-grips dis- ,3

4placed 1in order lto release 'the upper lcrossbar, thelatter vbeing'shown las swinging aroundfa'pivot `at-one end -Iforits tensilemernber to slip 01T.

13 y-is -fa Asectional elevation of the -connector 'in normal position A'on Ja larger scale.

Figs. '4 xand5 Y'are plan views in'section 'on the lines 4-4 'and FS-i irespectively vvnf Fig.

In the lembodiment of the `invention *shown ain `these drawings, ``the connector comprises two parallel members-onerose lbars -i'I-, -I I, 'witnwhich :the looped -ends of the lift webs-or l`cords 12, +3 are engaged, two -,si' 'iepiecer-: i4, t5 "o'f substanltially square cross section, and ytwo grips -I-l, H Varranged as channel members tting'upon-the `side pieces 4and gui-ded by means of L slots I8 in the channel Iianges; the two opposite slots I8 of each grip or channel 'engage'respectively with Ythe head Iand the point of -a screw "I9 or V20 respectively, passing fthrough the sidelpiece inline with the axis of the Lcross-bar or Lmember 5| 0 Iwhich. swings for release of the ten- .sile connection .|22, .as shown in Fig. 2. Normallythe ^screws [9, 1'0 .occupy Athe-parallel por- .tions .of =the;.slots, .but sliding movement of the "grips, .inrthe longitudinal Adirection (as indicatl.edioy thearrowsin Figi), will bring the middle fangledportions of .theslots as `far as the screws; :subsequent .closing movement of the two jgrips .1'.6, .[1 .towards one another (tothe position i1- .lustrate'd.in..Fig..2) will Slide the transverseportions .of theslots I8 along the 'screws t9, 20, .this.movementproducingthe release .ofthe crossbar 'I0 .toswingaround a vpivot yat one 'end and .allowingjthe cords l2 to slip off at the other end. .These cords l2 .are `sewn together byfcross-stitchfing, as indicated'at l[205, so as to form "a sleeve tting '1oose1y"upon"the lcrossbar il] in orderto facilitateits slipping 01T, 'whereasthe cords 'I3 are 'fitted with .tightfloops upon the crossbar II in Yordentoavoidtilting'under load.

The swinging member or crossbar "l0 -is-piv- .oted'upon-:the screw I'Gjpassing'through theside piecefli,this1nember 'Hl beingformed by a tube l"having :a jointeknuckle '21 ysecured'thereto land havinga secondknuckle member =`22 'vslidable inside ithe tube `the knuckles are `integral with `stems 23, '24 -df semicircu'lar section, yi'itting side "by'si'de fin the bore fof the tube `Il), one stem Z3 Lbeingifi-:redfbylrivets JZlifor the like, as shown Tin Fi'g. f4, -and 4-th'e other stem '24 i being "free `to 1 slide vklongitudinally*in irelation to` the tube. The tfixed ljoint-ilcnukle 222| has ya slotted engagement y'at 26 with the pivot screw I9, .but 'the slidable knuokle fmernber '12:2 engages :as 4'a close "nt upon it'his fscrew; ith-us :the `tube .ri acan vmove -longitudirialli7 itc :1a limit-ed extent lin :relation fto the ssideepiece EM :and :screw M9, its yiixeol knuckle y21 mormally .projecting Ibeyond 'the other lknuckle fand Amakingcontact with 'f the interior of thegrip forechannel, as shown in `Fig. 4. .In this position, =thefs1idahle rk-nuckl'eestern 2.1i :will project from (the npposite end x.of `.the tube l0, where .it fen- .gagesfin fa v.cylindrical .recess :21 inthe :otherfsidemie-ce fk5, 'which -is .traversed by the correspond- .fing screw .2.0 .for .guidingits Igrip or channel :member .|.f1 .inside .this recess .2.1 .there are lit- ...ted twosemi-circularshoes 128,29, both .traversed Iby `.the guide .screw -shaped .5 0 aligned 1with .the .knuckle vstem'2f3 secured to the ltubeor swinging crossbar I0, and through a slot- :ted hole "31 .in the shoe "29 aligned with the slidable 'knuckle-stem 21. The Ilatter shoe 29 .has `its inner end, 'adjacent .'to the .s'liclable knuckle- 5.5 stem, formed with a :tooth Ior ledge 32 'at right angles to its axis, the end surface of the shoe being curved away above and below this tooth, as shown in Fig. 3; a corresponding tooth or overhang 33 is provided on the adjacent end of the slidable knuckle-stem 24, these two teeth resting flat on one another to limit the return of the swinging member I8 to normal position, when the slidable knuckle-stem 24 is pushed into the recess 21 and the shoe 29 thereby forced out into contact with the interior of the grip or channel I1 on this side of the connector. In order to allow the swinging of the tube or crossbar I8 about its pivot screw I8, without hindrance by the tooth 32 upon the slotted shoe 29, a notch 34 is cut on the end of the tube in a position to clear the tooth 32 on the shoe.

The displacement of the grips or channels I8, I1 in relation to the side-pieces I4, I5, is also controlled by keys in the form of blades 35, 36 fixed on the interior of the grips and passing through narrow longitudinal slots 31, 38 in the outer faces of the side-pieces; the inner ends of these blades work in cylindrical recesses 39, 40 bored longitudinally of the side-pieces and enclosing coiled springs 4I, tted with caps 42 at their extremities. One end-cap of each spring presses down upon the corresponding blade 35 or 35 so as to hold the grip in normal extruded position, while the other end-cap presses up against the two knuckles 2|, 22 in the one case and against the two shoes 28, 29 in the other case.

The parallel member or crossbar II, to which the other tensile connection I3 is attached, comprises an outer sleeve supported by two hollow trunnions 43, 44 at inside the sleeve II, these trunnions are cut away to semi-annular section, the two cut-away portions 43a, 44a overlapping and being slidable side by side in the interior of the sleeve. The trunnion 44 section slidable in the bore of the other trunnion 43, this extension having a rounded end 45 which is notched diametrically at 41 to engage with the blade 35 of the adjacent grip; near the end of the extension, it is notched transversely, at right angles to the first-mentioned notch, this transverse notch 48 being normally engaged by a hook or tooth 49 projecting from the blade, within the cylindrical recess 39 which houses one of the coiled springs 4I, the back of the hook wedging against the side of this recess, as seen in Fig. 3.

The side-piece I5 and the adjacent portion of the hollow trunnion 44 enclose a sliding rod 5I! having a rounded outer end 5| which is also notched diametrically at 52 to engage with the blade 38 of the grip I1 on that side-piece; the inner end of this rod is notched transversely at 53, at right angles to the notch 52 at its outer end, to engage with a pin 54 screwed into the wall of the semi-annular portion 43a, of the trunnion 43, this pin 54 being inserted and removable through a hole 55 in the outer sleeve II which can be turned to register the hole with the pin. Against this pin there rests one end of a coiled spring 56 loosely tted between the two semi-annular trunnion portions, the other end oi the spring bearing against a second pin 51 screwed into the semi-annular wall 44a of the trunnion 44; the pressure of this spring tends to force the trunnions 43, 44 axially together, thus holding the side-pieces I6, I1 in rigid engagement with the sleeve II, and maintaining the notched ends 46, 5| of the extension the ends of the side-pieces;

has an axial extension 45 of circular i their support for .springs 4I return the grips 45 and sliding rod 50 in engagement with the blades 35, 38 of the respective grips.

In operation, with the lift webs I2, I3 or the like under tension, a quick release of the connector will be obtained by grasping the two grips I6, I1 with one hand, sliding them longitudinally of the side-pieces I4, I5 against the action of the coiled springs 4I inside the latter, and then squeezing the grips together until the pivoted cross bar I8 swings aside and frees the looped end of the cords I2 attached to it. The initial movement brings the angled middle portions of the guide slots I8 up to the screws I9, 28 passing through the side-pieces I4, I5 and slides the keys or blades 35, 38 fixed inside the grips along the slots 31, 38 in the side-pieces, thereby compressing the springs 4I inside the latter and lifting the hook 49 formed on the blade 35 out or the transverse notch 48 in the axial extension 45 of the trunnion 44 projecting from the opposite side-piece I5; the grips I8, I1 will thus be prepared for inward movement. Upon squeezing the grips together, the side-pieces I4, I5 will be separated by a distance approximately equal to the approach of the grips towards one another. In the case of the pivoted member or crossbar It, its slotted knuckle 2| is pushed inwards by contact with the interior of the grip I8, the other end of the knuckle-stem 23 therefore pushing back the side-piece I5 by abutment against the fixed shoe 28 in the cylindrical recess 21; conversely the slidable shoe 29 is pushed inwards by contact with the interior of the second grip I1, causing the slidable knuckle-stem 24 to push back the other side-piece I4. The separation of the side-pieces I4, I5 thus produced is sufficient for the slidable knuckle-stem 24 to escape from the cylindrical recess 21, so that the crossbar formed by the tube I8 and knuckle members can swing clear around its pivot screw I9 to release the cords.

n the meantime, at the other end of the connector, the squeezing of the grips I8, I1 has caused their blades 35, 38 to press inwards the notched ends of the trunnion-extension 45 and sliding bar 58, against the action of the spring 55 mounted between them, the two trunnions 43, 44 and the corresponding ends of the side-pieces therefore moving apart suiiciently to loosen the outer sleeve II which normally binds them rigidly together; the two sidepieces I4, I5 are thus left free to rock slightly in relation to one another, in order to facilitate the release of the pivoted crossbar IIJ at the other end of the connector and to make it possible to re-engage the bar afterwards. When the looped cords I2 have been attached once more to the crossbar I8, the latter is swung down into place, until arrested by the engagement of the teeth 32, 33, whereupon the spring 55 draws together the adjacent ends of the side-pieces I4, I5, causing the end of the slidable knuckle-stem 24 to snap into the cylindrical recess 21, as soon as the squeeze upon the grips is eased; the two to normal position, and the connector has thus become rigid again, the trunnions 43, y44 being locked together by the engagement of the blade hook 49 in its transverse notch 48 as the sliding movement ofthe grips is completed.

What 1 claim is:

1. A detachable connector for tensile members, comprising two side-pieces, two crossbars, each -crossbar having its extremities engaged in the respective side-pieces, said crossbars being adapted to receive adjacent ends of the connected tensile members, two grips mounted upo-n the side-pieces and slidable longitudinally thereof, means normally locking said side-pieces together through one of said crossbars, said locking means being controlled by longitudinal sliding movement of said grips, a pivot secured in one of said cross-pieces, the other of said crossbars having an extremity engaged with said one crosspiece by means of said pivot and its opposite `extremity engaged with the other cross-piece by sliding engagement in a recess therein, said grips being movable inwardly towards one another after their longitudinal sliding movement, and means operated by the inward movement of said grips for disengaging said other crossbar from said recess for swinging movement about said pivot to release the respective tensile member.

2. A detachable connector for tensile members, comprising two normally parallel members, said parallel members being adapted te receive the adjacent ends of the connected tensile members, two normally parallel side-pieces, said parallel members extending transversely between said side-pieces and having their opposite extremities engaged therein, two grips mounted on said sidepieces and slidable longitudinally thereof, said grips being also movable inwardly towards one another after completion `of their longitudinal sliding movement, means normally locking said side-pieces together through one of said parallel members, said locking means being controlled by longitudinal sliding movement of said grips, a

pivot secured in one of said side-pieces, the other P of said parallel members having an extremity engaged with said pivot to form its engagement with the respective side-piece, the opposite extremity of said other parallel member being slidable in a recess in the other side-piece to form its engagement therewith, and means operated by the inward movement of said grips for disengaging said other parallel member from said. recess for swinging movement about said pivot to release the respective tensile member.

3. A detachable connector for tensile members, comprising 'two tubular members adapted to engage within loops on said tensile members, two

side-pieces engaging with the extremities of said tubular members, one of said side-pieces including a pivot engaging with a knuckle at one extremity of one tubular member and the opposite extremity of said one tubular member engaging in a recess in the other side-piece, said sidepieces including hollow trunnions engaged externally by the opposite extremities of the other tubular member, an extension from one of said trunnions passing through the interior of said other tubular member and through the interior of the other trunnion to within said one sidepiece, a hook secured inside the grip mounted upon said one side-piece, said hook normally lock.. ing with the extremity of said extension projecting beyond said other trunnion, said hook being displaced to unlock said extension by the sliding movement of said grips, and means operated by the inward movement of said grips for disengaging said one tubular member from said recess for swinging movement about said pivot to release the respective tensile member.

4. A detachable connector for tensile members, adapted for manual disconnection while under tension, comprising two normally parallel members over which the adjacent ends of the tensile members are looped, two side-pieces in which the extremities of said parallel members are engaged, two spring-controlled grips mounted on said sidepieces, said grips being adapted for sliding longitudinally of the respective side-pieces and subsequent c-losing movement towards one another, a pivot mounted in one of said side-pieces, one of said normally parallel members having one extremity carried by said pivot, the opposite extremity of said one normally parallel member being engageable in a recess in the other of said side-pieces, and means for locking said sidepieces together, the sliding movement of said grips rst releasing said locking means, and the closing movement of said grips then disengaging said one normally parallel member from said recess for swinging movement about said pivot to free the respective tensile member.

JOHN RAYMOND CUTHBERT QUILTER.

No references cited. 

